Diversity and a biogeographical review of the earthworms (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae) of the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina Mountains) in Serbia and Bulgaria

Authors : Mirjana STOJANOVIC, Ralitsa TSEKOVA, Snezana PESIC, Jovana MILANOVIC, Tanja MILUTINOVIC

Pages : 635-642

Doi:10.3906/tar-1201-53

View : 16 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this paper we summarize the knowledge on earthworm diversity in the Balkan Mountains insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Stara Planina Mountains); based on new findings and published data in order to establish the first list of known earthworm taxa from the entire area of the Balkan Mountains. During investigations in the western part of the Balkan Mountains insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(western Stara Planina Mountains);, 24 earthworm species were recorded altogether. Among them, 10 taxa represented the first findings for the whole territory of the Balkan Mountains insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Allolobophora robusta spasenijakaramani, Aporrectodea smaragdina, Dendrobaena byblica, Dendrobaena hortensis, Dendrobaena illyrica, Dendrobaena jastrebensis, Dendrobaena vejdovskyi, Dendrobaena veneta, Helodrilus balcanicus balcanicus, and Helodrilus cernosvitovianus);. The complete list of lumbricids from the Balkan Mountains contains 40 taxa belonging to 14 genera. With respect to the zoogeographic situation, the majority of them belong to peregrine, endemic, and trans-Aegean species. Our data show that the degree of endemism for the whole Stara Planina Mountains is relatively high insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(20%);. Summing up the 9 endemics and the Balkanic insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Moesian and Illyric); species, 27.5% of the total lumbricid fauna shows an autochthonous character. The impressive earthworm diversity shows that the Balkan Mountains are a territory of considerable species richness.
Keywords : Key words Earthworms, Balkan Mountains Stara Planina Mountains, western Stara Planina Mountains, Serbia, Bulgaria, zoogeographical position